21 dead as floods strike quake-hit province in northwest China

Rescuers relocate local residents from a flooded area in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. At least 21 people have been killed and four reported missing in floods and mudslides that hit a Chinese province where at least 95 others died this week in twin earthquakes, state media reported on Saturday, July 27, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

Local residents travel in a rubber dingny in a flooded area in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region, on Thursday, July 25, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

Local residents wade in a flooded area in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

Local residents wade in a flooded area in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

A flooded restaurant is seen in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

A road is seen damaged by flooding in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

Rescuers relocate local residents from a flooded area in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. At least 21 people have been killed and four reported missing in floods and mudslides that hit a Chinese province where at least 95 others died this week in twin earthquakes, state media reported on Saturday, July 27, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

A road is seen damaged by flooding in Yakeshi, in northern China's Inner Mongolia region on Thursday, July 25, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP

BEIJING (AFP) - At least 21 people have been killed and four reported missing in floods and mudslides that hit a Chinese province where at least 95 others died this week in twin earthquakes, state media reported on Saturday.

Floods, landslides and rockfalls have been reported since Thursday in the northwestern province of Gansu following heavy rains, China's official Xinhua news agency said, quoting the local government.

Several villages in the province were cut off, with power and communication lines down and roads blocked, the government said.

In one village, named Rongguang, more than half of the houses had been destroyed in the disasters, said a rescuer.